Brotherly Embrace

Even if Kurt Waldheim is guilty of war crimes as alleged ((WORLD, July 6)), he deserves to be received by Pope John Paul II. Jesus loved sinners while detesting their sins. It is the Pope's job to represent this remarkable Jew in today's complex world. The Pope has extended his embrace to Mehmet Ali Agca, who tried to assassinate him, to Yasser Arafat and to the Communist rulers in his native Poland. So should he embrace Waldheim.

(The Rev.) Norbert Wood

Villingen, West Germany

I object to the term pariah in your story on the Pope's meeting with Kurt Waldheim. According to the dictionary, a pariah is an outcast. To use this word to describe President Waldheim, Austria's head of state, was offensive.

Elsie Allbright

Gardena, Calif.